On September 19, 1958, Elvis Presley released one of the strongest soundtracks of his career.
Just three days later, he boarded a military transport ship and left the United States for Army service in West Germany. The timing made King Creole feel almost like the closing chapter of Elvis’s explosive first era.
Released by RCA Victor as LPM-1884, the album contained 11 songs written and recorded for the movie King Creole.
Unlike some of Elvis’s later formula soundtracks, this one had a darker sound built around rock and roll, blues and New Orleans-inspired jazz.
Much of the music was recorded at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on January 15, 16 and 23, 1958, with additional soundtrack work at Paramount’s scoring stage on February 11.
The musicians surrounding Elvis helped give the record its distinctive sound.
Scotty Moore played guitar, Bill Black handled bass and D.J. Fontana was on drums. The sessions also featured clarinetist Mahlon Clark, trumpeter John Ed Buckner and other musicians who added brass and jazz textures rarely heard so strongly on an Elvis soundtrack.
Elvis Presley – King Creole
The songs included some of the toughest recordings Elvis had made to that point.
“Hard Headed Woman” had already become a major hit before the full album arrived.
Then there was “Trouble,” with Elvis delivering one of his most defiant performances, along with “New Orleans,” “Crawfish,” “Dixieland Rock” and the title track written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.